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Original poster

My cat is missing and I'm devastated

64 replies

MRSMARMITE3 · 31/12/2021 23:53

Just that really. He went missing just before Christmas. He's been done, microchipped but no one has seen him for 7 days. We moved house 6 week's before and it was his first time out.
Everyone keeps telling me he will have gone back to the old house but we are in the middle of a town now and there's a train line and River in the way. Plus he sprayed our garden before he went over the fence.
Why am I do grief stricken. I keep randomly crying and I feel so guilty. I wish I knew what had happened to him.
I've done all the posters/litter tray/dirty washing outside. He was such a lovely cat. Timid of everyone but followed me round like he was my shadow. No one gets it

OP posts:
DinkyDaisy · 31/12/2021 23:55

I'm so sorry.
People qill get it here...xx

SparklingLime · 31/12/2021 23:56

I’m so sorry, it’s an awful thing to go through. Have you tried the sardine oil at night? I’ll attach a few tips in case there’s any you haven’t already tried.

RunningFromInsanity · 31/12/2021 23:57

I’m pretty sure he will be back. First time out, this often happens.

Doesn’t help you now as I know how awful it is when they are missing.

SparklingLime · 31/12/2021 23:58

Here…

My cat is missing and I'm devastated
My cat is missing and I'm devastated
My cat is missing and I'm devastated
purpleme12 · 01/01/2022 00:17

Oh my gosh I'm so so sorry
I can't imagine how it feels

Rupertpenrysmistress · 01/01/2022 00:34

I had this with my 4 month old, she was missing for 4 days. You have already had some good advice here much of which I also did. It's a bit more complicated as you say you have just moved. Although I had a cat that did that and he was found at my old house.

Have you put posters up? I posted everywhere, lamp posts and through doors. Have you been back to the d house and asked the owners to keep an eye out? Let your vet and local rescues know, they will take a description and often put it on their Facebook page to.

I think the other tips have been covered litter tray and tinned fish in the gardens. Searching late at night as it is quieter. I was searching at 3am some days. I know how horrible this is. I really hope you get some good news soon.

baffledbunny · 01/01/2022 00:45

Sorry to hear about your cat. One thing I read a while ago is that some people seem to swear by talking to other cats. I know it sounds ridic but apparently if you see one around that lives nearby you can politely ask it to go find your cat and ask it to come home. Swear some people said it works apparently. Good luck!

largeprintagathachristie · 01/01/2022 00:46

People here get it. I’m so sorry.
There’s definitely still hope, though.
The not knowing must be very hard.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/01/2022 00:55

Put a thread on Litter Tray in Pets (and search through , there willl be other threads/advice on the subject of missing cats )

Do yu have a local FB or WhatsApp page ?
Our very shy jet black boy went AWOL (not even a full day) but we were frantic
DS and DH went out out with noisy biscuit tins
Asked all the neighbours to check sheds
Dreaded the call that there might be an RTA involving a cat .

He eventually sauntered back , calm as you like .

Previous cat went AWOL, I saw her looking at me from NDN bedroom window (many years ago)

If you have any photos of him, let your local Vets know , in case he's handed into them
Also any Rescues.
Has he any distinctive markings?

Good Luck , home he comes home soon

Obakarama · 01/01/2022 01:00

It is rotten. So sorry for you. When it happened to me I just had to think my cat had found a tribe she preferred and imagine good things happening, like people feeding her and her having adventures. It is rough though.

leotardrock · 01/01/2022 01:00

Oh god I so feel for you!
My cat went missing on the 24th November! It is just heart breaking!
Have you put up posters, leafleted the area, shared on social media, updated his microchip?

Me & my husband have just seen in the new year sobbing because he's still missing! We've had some definite sightings, borrowed a trap from Cat Protection but were unsuccessful in getting him & now just wandering the streets trying to confirm potential sightings! It's exhausting & very very sad!🙁

crosshatching · 01/01/2022 01:03

Oh I'm sorry, I hope you find your little shadow again very soon.

jeannie46 · 01/01/2022 01:10

Lost one of my rescue cats the first time he went out.
No sign for days though I put out food everyday in case he was around. It was difficult to know who was eating it, though it did disappear.

The woman who runs the Rescue brought a trap round with instructions to leave some food in it. She didn't think he would have gone far with his brother being in my house. Similarly I guess it is not very likely that your cat will have gone far away from you.

I caught 2 other cats first, but on the second day caught mine at about 6am. He was very hungry! He hasn't wandered since but his very timid brother has been away for upto 48 hours but not hungry when returned so I guess he was getting fed elsewhere or finding his own. Perhaps yours is?

He may be shut inside a shed/ garage etc. My sister lost her cat and heard it meowing when she went out calling her, very early in the morning. She was in a neighbour's cold frame. Have you asked neighbours to check?

Cats also often enter other houses through cat flaps / windows etc so it may just be he's 'visiting'. As soon as my neighbour's dog died my cat started to visit them, hoovering up any human food left out.

So don't give up hope it may just be that he's not sure where he lives yet and is experimenting with the area. Hopefully he's not wandered too far.

BashfulClam · 01/01/2022 01:13

Put his litter tray outside (unless you emptied it) cats have a great sense of smell (hunters) and it can guide them home from a few miles away as he might have just got mixed up.

BashfulClam · 01/01/2022 01:13

Aw I see you tried that, sorry.

Original poster
MRSMARMITE3 · 01/01/2022 01:14

Oh I'm so sorry. It's heart breaking!! People keep messaging me "happy new year" and I think "how can it be??" It's good there's been sightings of your cat so you know he's still somewhere

OP posts:
jeannie46 · 01/01/2022 01:20

Just reminded me - sometimes if I am talking quietly to a friend in the garden my cats will suddenly show themselves ( cats are nosy). You might try that - but don't sound too anxious ( if possible ).

Cats are notoriously good at hiding and it's very possible that your cat is nearer than you think but frightened to show himself in a new area so calling him at night or leaving a door open so he can come in, in his own time , might do the trick.

Viciouslybashed · 01/01/2022 01:27

My boy cat did this. I was beside myself. Literally couldn't relax and put all the pleas out. It was made worse as we were not 100 percent when we had last seen him which made me feel like I was the worst cat mum. Well he arrived back after 8 days. He was very hurt but thank god for insurance he was sorted. But I believe he was trapped or hurt near by as me and my kids had gone out late at night and thought we heard him but we were scuppered by the mad numbers of cats that appear when you call your own cars name. Rambling now but totally get it. I kept thinking of something had happened to him we would know as he was chipped. Fingers crossed he's just out exploring.

TheOccupier · 01/01/2022 01:29

So sorry. Cannot add to the good advice already posted but will pray for your kitty to come home x

jeannie46 · 01/01/2022 01:41

Cats are territorial so he will be lying low until he can establish his new territory. Also he will be loth to come inside as he will be wanting to 'protect' his new area from the other cats. If you saw him spraying I think that is a good sign as it is showing him making his presence felt. He'll be patrolling the area sorting out where the boundaries of his territory could be. Much too busy to show himself maybe until he's feeling more secure. Just keep putting food out for him.

3girlsmama · 01/01/2022 01:44

I totally understand. Our 7 month old kitten went missing before Christmas for 4 nights. We searched high & low at all times of day and night, it was so upsetting.

He turned up having managed to get across a road (possibly spooked by a dog)/and into another housing estate & we think he got disoriented. A lovely lady found him. He was an bit grubby & hungry, but fine.

Things we did as well as the litter tray outside, food box shaking etc..

Checked with local vets & sent details to cat rescue places.

Shared a post on wider city-area lost pet groups. These are good for sharing & networking across local areas.

Used several different pictures of him on posters, leaflets & social media. (Some people can't really tell the difference with different cats, we got a few false alarms on similar colour but different looking cats), so a few different pics/angles can help).

Offered an (unspecified amount) reward on the posters - put up all around our house/immediate area & leaflets - dropped into about 100 houses.

Likewise, used different images on various Social Media local groups.

We were very clear he was chipped & a much-loved family pet in all posts & posters.

Used the neighbourhood watch text group to shout out for people to please check their garages, sheds etc, several times.

Perhaps doing this in your new and old areas will help.

People were so kind in helping us look, and ultimately, finding him. I hope you get a bit of that same kindness and he turns up safe.

Hotelhelp · 01/01/2022 01:44

Oh OP I’m so sorry. I really really hope you find him I just can’t think of anything worse.

You hear all sorts of stories about cats coming back so don’t give up on him just yet.

LowlandLucky · 01/01/2022 02:11

I hope he wanders home soon

SirVixofVixHall · 01/01/2022 02:19

Don’t give up yet OP. Leaflet everywhere, door to door, and also post on social media. Twitter , facebook, local facebook for your old area and new, and instagram.
My friend’s cat was found after more than a week, she was trapped on someone’s windowsill, really high up, a mystery as to how she got there.
Another friend had a cat return after six months !
Cats can get stuck in garages etc at this time of year when people go away. I also agree with going out and night and calling. This worked when my own cat went missing . He was gone for weeks, but there had been sightings of him so I knew roughly where he was. He’d been chased by dogs and was afraid to come back the same way but there was no other route home.

nzeire · 01/01/2022 02:56

I’ve just been through a devastating few days when my sick old cat disappeared before I could get her to the vet. I was ruined, sobbed by guts out. She staggered in 2 days ago and the relief was overwhelming.

Don’t give up, you’ll be surprised how many saunter back in. Local Facebook groups are good for these things too, people love to help xxx